Jeff Martin may have left the Tea Party behind, but fans of his old band won't be shocked by his solo debut.

While the industrial affectations of the band's later albums are absent (it's more of an acoustic affair), and Martin seems to have made a conscious attempt to avoid the Jim Morrison comparisons that have dogged his work, the Tea Party's fondness for eastern motifs and instrumentation is still there, with the trippy burble of Indian percussion and fingerpicked melodies giving Exile a mellow feel.

Exile's lyrics seem less obscure than in the Tea Party's work, with the album essentially being a love letter to his lady.

One might quibble with the abrupt fadeouts at the end of several songs, as if Martin couldn't decide how to end things, but otherwise it's listenable.
Sun Rating: 3 out of 5